Chapter 4: The Supreme Wing Spiker
"I'm ready, teacher!"
Hinata Shoyo was rubbing his hands together, already eager to show the results he had gained from studying under a professional trainer these past few months.
PE Teacher No. 1 learned from her previous lesson of being shocked by Hyakuzawa Yudai, and to prevent another situation where she would be shocked.
This time she gave herself sufficient mental preparation.
No matter what, she couldn't lose face as a school-level girls' basketball team coach in front of these 'boys' volleyball interest group' members.
She estimated Hinata Shoyo's height by eye.
Since she had countless players of similar height on her team, she easily got a rough measurement.
'Looks like under 165cm? Then it doesn't matter. At this height, among the three major ball sports, soccer would be more suitable.'
'Basketball has short players too, but what level can 165cm achieve? Volleyball is even more so, it's an aerial battle, the ball has to go over the net to score.'
'At this height, if jumping ability is average, he might not even clear the net, let alone aerial battles. I estimate he's probably a libero or something.'
"Begin!"
"Yoshi!"
Just as Teacher No. 1 crossed her arms over her chest, waiting to see Hinata Shoyo's performance.
Like stop-motion animation.
Frame by frame changes.
Hinata Shoyo taking large steps, leaning forward, in a sprinting posture.
Teacher No. 1, who had no idea what was about to happen, only looking up at the volleyball with unfocused eyes.
Hinata Shoyo running fast, stepping to finish, swinging arms, lifting hips, perfectly jumping.
Like a great bird spreading its wings and flying.
The PE teacher suddenly realizing someone had flown up, startled by Hinata Shoyo.
Hinata Shoyo flying in the air, reaching for the horizontal bar with an extremely stretched posture.
The teacher's eyes gradually widening, her expression gradually changing from startled confusion to shock.
Hinata Shoyo perfectly performing, landing like a superhero.
The PE teacher shocked with her hands spread open on either side of her chest, not knowing how to position them, her facial expression skills at maximum level.
"Boys' volleyball interest... no... the boys' volleyball team, what kind of monsters are they all?"
"334cm!!!"
"Amazing! Hinata-senpai!"
Kawashima continued meticulously checking the numbers on the horizontal bar and loudly announcing them.
He also added a bit of admiration for Hinata Shoyo's amazing jumping ability.
Hinata Shoyo put on a generous senior expression and even pointed his thumb at his nose.
"Hehe, right! I told you I can jump really high!"
Kawashima and the other two nodded in unison.
"Yes yes yes!"
Hinata Shoyo responded with a smile.
"Let me teach you newcomers some jumping tips!"
"First it's thump! Then uhh! Finally whoosh! And you can jump high!"
The three newcomers looked at each other.
'Did you understand?'
'I didn't. You?'
'I didn't either.'
"Actually."
Hinata Shoyo scratched the back of his head.
"I always thought I was just short, but could jump really well."
"Until I saw Guren's spike that time."
"I suddenly realized that if height isn't enough, jumping can only compensate for part of the ability, and my real weapon."
"Isn't jumping."
The earnest Kawashima very timely played the straight man, asking with a hint of curiosity.
"Then what is Hinata-senpai's weapon?"
"I don't know either."
Hinata Shoyo grinned.
"I'm still searching for it!"
"Next! Ichise Guren!"
The PE teacher's call interrupted the four people who were chatting enthusiastically.
"You four over there! Clear the way!"
"Yes!"
After four crisp responses, the four returned to their respective positions.
Kawashima continued standing next to the measuring bar, responsible for observing values.
Hinata Shoyo and the remaining two obediently returned to the group.
Preparing to watch the volleyball club's uncrowned king, who although didn't hold the captain position.
Had been responsible for guidance, training, and team meals over these months.
Even arranging diet lists and sleep schedules for Hyakuzawa Yudai and Hinata Shoyo.
Ichise Guren's vertical jump performance.
Mori and Suzuki also began whispering.
"Did Hinata-senpai just say Ichise-senpai jumps very high?"
"Mm, although he didn't directly say jumps high, it should mean that."
"Then how high would it be?"
"Could he jump even higher than Hyakuzawa-senpai?"
"No way? Hyakuzawa-senpai is 195cm!"
Hyakuzawa Yudai nearby heard their conversation and looked at them.
He said seriously.
"Guren-nii's vertical reach is higher than mine."
The two were stunned by Hyakuzawa Yudai's words, looking completely incredulous.
After exchanging glances, they both looked at Hyakuzawa Yudai again.
"Eh? Really?"
"You're kidding, right?"
"How high would that be?"
Hyakuzawa Yudai suddenly felt a bit embarrassed being stared at by the two little newcomers.
He touched his nose and spoke.
"I don't know how to express it clearly."
"But when Guren-nii jumps, the feeling his posture gives."
"Can't be described as simply jumping high and therefore shocking."
"It's that kind of... very special but you can feel a very pure, pure joy and satisfaction of jumping up to spike."
Suzuki and Mori were already completely confused, unable to understand what Hyakuzawa Yudai was saying.
"Even if you say that, Hyakuzawa-senpai..."
"We totally can't get that feeling..."
Hyakuzawa Yudai chuckled lightly.
"Is that so? That's fine, you'll see it right away."
"By the way, why does Hyakuzawa-senpai call Ichise-senpai with a brotherly suffix?"
"Yeah, I wanted to ask before. Your surnames are different too."
The two little ones voiced their inner doubts.
Hyakuzawa Yudai paused.
"Oh right, we never told you about this, I think only Hinata knows."
"My mother is Guren-nii's mother's younger sister, so we're cousins."
"Also, I started playing volleyball because Guren-nii got me into it, I've called him that since childhood, it's a habit."
Mori and Suzuki wanted to ask more about how Hyakuzawa Yudai started playing volleyball.
But Teacher No. 1's call made them quickly turn around and put on an attitude of ready to learn seriously.
Because what PE Teacher No. 1 called was.
"Ichise Guren! Ready!"
"Ready."
And the next scene would become an unforgettable sight for the two freshmen for the rest of their lives.
Ichise Guren's figure, with the whistling sound of approaching wind, swept past their ears.
What came into view was Ichise Guren's completely focused appearance, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
Step, takeoff.
Fully converting the approach run speed into kinetic energy, transforming it into the power to jump high.
And this power from running, pushing off the ground, to arm swinging, ankle and knee joint direction, positioning, distance between feet.
Everything was so perfect and standard, yet without a trace of deliberateness.
As if this perfect jumping form had been carved into his bones, becoming bodily instinct.
Gliding about two meters, Ichise Guren's body stretched out in the air.
Snap.
No one cared how high he jumped or what the measuring bar value was.
Like a strong wind blowing into a valley that had never opened to the outside.
In an instant, it swept away all negative emotions, leaving only humanity's pursuit of beauty and art.
And they all sighed at this jump.
"It's like... a work of art."
Only one person was an exception, he was only amazed for two seconds before starting to make noise.
"Amazing!!!"
"Guren! That hitting point is too high!!!"
"I want to jump this high too!!!"
"Kawashima! Kawashima!"
"How high did Guren jump!!!"
Kawashima was brought back to his senses by Hinata Shoyo's calls and hurriedly looked at the numbers on the highest horizontal bar that had moved.
"341?"
With a somewhat uncertain tone, he read out the number 341cm.
Kawashima rubbed his eyes and confirmed again, then loudly announced Ichise Guren's vertical jump result.
"Ichise-senpai! 341cm! 341cm!"
Immediately, the entire gymnasium erupted.
"Really? That's too terrifying!!!"
"Ichise-senpai just flew, right?"
"An angel? It looked like he had wings!"
"Are you stupid? How could there be wings!"
" Scary! How do you block at that height!"
*****
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